277 



with a loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds flat, packed one upon another in 1 or 2 rows, with a 

 spongy, dilated, often winged integument; embryo with the same direction as the seed, in the 

 axis of fleshy albumen. Bulbs scaly, or stems arborescent. Leaves with parallel veins, 

 either lanceolate or cordate. Mowers large, usually with bright colours, often solitary. 



Affinities. Distinguishable from Asphodeleae by their higher degree of 

 developement, and by the texture of the coat of their seeds. Various degrees 

 of cohesion between their sepals and petals occur, so that we have tubular pe- 

 rianths and revolute ones even in the same genus (Lilium). Hence Mr. 

 Brown's Hemerocallidere, which he states differ from Liliaceae in almost no- 

 thing but their tubular perianth, cannot be retained. Decandolle refers Ery- 

 thronium to Asphodeleffi in the Botanicon Gallicum ; in the Flore Franqais e 

 he placed it in Melanthaceae ; but it surely ought to be stationed here. 



Geography. The temperate parts of America, Europe, and Asia, are the 

 favourite resort of this tribe, which stretches towards equinoctial countries upon 

 the mountains of Mexico in the form of Calochortus, and in New Holland in 

 the shape of Blandfordia. 



Properties. Chiefly remarkable for their large richly coloured flowers. 

 The bulbs of Lilium Pomponium are roasted and eaten in Kamtschatka, 

 where it is as commonly cultivated as the potato with us. Gard. Mag. 6. 

 322. The roots of Erythronium indicum are employed in India in cases of 

 strangury and fever in horses. Ainslie, 1. 403. Polianthes tuberosa, or the 

 Tuberose, is well known for its delicious fragrance. This plant emits its scent 

 most strongly after sunset, and has been observed in a sultry evening, after 

 thunder, when the atmosphere was highly charged with electric fluid, to dart 

 small sparks, or scintillations of lucid flame, in great abundance from such of 

 its flowers as were fading. Ed. P. J. 3. 415. 



Examples. Lilium, Fritillaria, Hemerocallis, Funkia. 



CCLII. PALMjE. The Palm Tribe. 



Palm*, Juss. Gen. (1789) ; R. Brown Prodr. 266. (1810) ; Von Martius Palm. Braz. (1824) 

 Id. 'Programma (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Hexapetaloideous arborescent monocotyledons, with rigid di- 

 vided leaves, a superior 3-celled ovarium, and an embryo lying in cartilaginous 

 or fleshy albumen at a distance from the hilum. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character.— Floicers monoclinous, or frequently polygamous. Perianthium 

 6-parted, in two series, persistent ; the 3 outer segments often smaller, the inner sometimes 

 deeply connate. Stamens inserted into the base of the perianthium, usually definite in num- 

 ber, opposite the segments of the perianthium, to which they are equal in number, seldom 3 ; 

 sometimes, in a few polygamous genera, indefinite in number. Ovary 1- 3-celled, or deeply 

 3-lobed, the lobes or cells 1-seeded, with an erect ovulum rarely 1-seeded. Fruit baccate or 

 drupaceous, with fibrous flesh. Albumen cartilaginous, and either ruminate, or furnished with 

 a central or ventral cavity; embryo lodged in a particular cavity of the albumen, usually at 

 a distance from the hilum, dorsal and indicated by a little nipple, taper or pully-shaped ; plu- 

 mula included, scarcely visible ; the cotyledonous extremity becoming thickened in germina- 

 tion, and either filling up a pre-existing cavity, or one formed by the liquefaction of the albu- 

 men in the centre.— Trunk arborescent, simple, occasionally shrubby and branched, rough 

 with the dilated half-sheathing bases of the leaves or their scars. Leaves clustered, terminal, 

 very large, pinnate or flabellitorm, plaited in vernation. Spadix terminal, often branched, en- 

 closed in a 1- or many-valved spatha. Flowers small, with bracteoke. Fruit occasionally very 

 large. R. Brown (1810.) J J 



Affinities. The race of plants to which the name of Palms has been as- 

 signed is, no doubt, the most interesting in the vegetable kingdom, if we consi- 



